[Ruwisc]

Week 5: April 18-29

Round 9:
...National 2-3 Semyof - 1-11, 5-7(11), 4-2, 6-4, 1-2
...Akashemo 2-3 Pasataki - 1-4, 1-4, 7-3, 4-10, 4-3
.......Muni 2-3 Lutrul - 3-4, 4-3(14), 4-0, 2-8, 5-9
.....Tsapna 2-3 A.Canaries - 3-6, 2-3, 6-2, 3-1, 1-3
.....Hokrof 2-3 Kupore - 0-10, 4-2, 5-7(10), 9-13, 16-3
..A.Spirits 4-1 Sh.Eagles - 3-0, 7-3, 1-8, 7-5(11), 4-1
....Fampalo 2-3 Sitache - 2-3, 1-2(13), 5-0, 1-2(10), 2-0
..Amnanache 2-3 Keleri - 3-1, 2-3, 2-7, 2-5, 6-1
....Cheshek 4-1 Nokelto - 2-1, 16-8, 6-3, 8-4, 2-5
.....Kepmem 1-4 Mighty Oaks - 1-6, 7-11, 4-9, 3-4, 7-4

April 19: The Spirits announce that CL Ruetsosa Riporeto has signed a 3-year, $18.9MM extension. Riporeto assumed the closer's role last season and racked up 41 saves. He's now among the league leaders with 12, as you would expect for a good team like the Spirits.

Muni 4, Lutrul 0: Devastating news for all fans of Lokasi baseball, but especially for Lutrul, as CF Ipitashi Rerawe will be out until September with a torn rotator cuff. The 5-time MVP suffered the injury while attempting to throw out Muni's Lafom Metokeni at the plate in the top of the 8th inning.

Hokrof 16, Kupore 3: Hokrof 2B Mashu Chyralo bashes three home runs as part of a seven-homer attack for his club, driving in 8 and also adding a double.

Round 10:
..Sh.Eagles 1-4 Muni - 2-6, 12-13(14), 1-3, 6-1, 2-8
Mighty Oaks 4-1 Fampalo - 6-2, 6-2(10), 7-2, 4-1(11), 4-5(10)
.....Kupore 2-3 Cheshek - 13-7, 1-11, 2-4, 13-4, 6-7
.....Keleri 3-2 Kepmem - 2-3, 5-13, 12-1, 9-1, 7-3
.A.Canaries 1-4 National - 2-10, 2-5, 1-6, 5-3(15), 2-7
...Pasataki 3-2 Hokrof - 7-6, 8-3, 4-6, 3-5, 11-5
.....Semyof 0-5 Tsapna 0-7, 2-6, 5-11, 7-13, 3-6
....Nokelto 3-2 Amnanache - 4-1, 6-4, 3-5(10), 6-2, 0-5
.....Lutrul 4-1 Akashemo - 4-2, 5-6, 7-3, 3-2, 10-2
..A.Spirits 3-2 Sitache - 4-3(10), 6-2, 6-1, 2-5, 1-9


Featured Game
April 26: Shunna Eagles (24-22) vs. Shunna Municipal (15-31)

Nimape Turetsotsa vs. Shaho Reopo
Eagles 301 300 000 003 20...12 17 0
..Muni 210 000 031 003 21...13 20 0

Muni have been using an opener whenever Reopo is scheduled to pitch, but that backfired terribly in this game as Kufeme Sahylu did not record an out. Muni managed to stabilize against Turetsotsa, tying the game in the second, but Reopo looked to be on the hook after allowing another four runs to score. That is, until a late rally tied the game. Star CF Solo Sipet homered leading off the 8th, then scored the tying run in the 9th after his double, a wild pitch, and a single by 1B Nerutsok Uchotsela. The teams traded duds in the 10th and 11th – I do play with extra-inning "zombie runners" – until the Eagles strung together a walk and three hits to score three times in the 12th, only to be met with a response in the form of Muni backup catcher Yatuna Toatsi's first EL home run, and first HR in any league in three years, tying the game 10-10. Two more hits and a wild pitch gave the Eagles a 12-10 lead in the 13th inning, but Sipet led off the bottom half by smashing another home run, tying the game once again. The winning run scored without a hit when Eagles reliever Relewe Skaki handed out three walks while getting only one out in the 14th.

This was all part of a big Muni series win, much needed. After being two games behind the field last week, and 5 games deep in the relegation zone, they're now out of last place on run differential and only two games behind the safety spots.

Aroketsil Spirits 4, Sitache 3: Star Spirits 1B Peku Karwo was hit in the head by a pitch from Sitache ace SP Aro Ipo. He was diagnosed with a concussion, which is expected to put him out for about two weeks. Anything longer-term would be pretty bad for a Spirits team in the title discussion, but 1B/OF Lopache Misha is a capable replacement, homering in the 6-1 win later in the series among other positive impacts. As is, Karwo will miss the two rivalry series with Mighty Oaks and the Canaries next week, so I'm curious to see if and how the Spirits respond.


Standings:...W..L
Mighty Oaks 36 14
..A.Spirits 34 16
.....Keleri 29 21
....Cheshek 29 21
.....Tsapna 28 22
..Amnanache 27 23
...Pasataki 27 23
....Fampalo 27 23
....Sitache 26 24
..Sh.Eagles 25 25
.....Lutrul 24 26
...National 23 27
.....Hokrof 23 27
.....Kupore 22 28
...Akashemo 22 28
....Nokelto 22 28
.....Semyof 20 30
-----------------
.....Kepmem 20 30
.......Muni 18 32
.A.Canaries 18 32


Before next week's post, we're just over a quarter of the way through the season, so I'll do a statistical look and give you a glance at how some lower leagues are going. But next week's schedule is a doozy; we have the first matchup between our top two teams, who have opened up a 5-game gap over the field. The most meaningful Aroketsil derby to date will take place at Oaks Park, with a battle of aces set to lead things off: Ihuna Cheyeo for the Spirits, and Siteno Aefep for the Oaks. After one emotional rivalry series, the Spirits will turn right around and do it again, facing the Canaries at home. Meanwhile, there is also a Chastara derby early in the week with Fampalo vs. Nokelto, and the league's two southernmost teams face off in round 12 – Pasataki vs. Kepmem in Kiwa Punem.

Round 11:
Amnanache vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Muni vs. Keleri
Fampalo vs. Nokelto Scouts
Hokrof vs. Aroketsil Canaries
Cheshek vs. Sitache
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Mighty Oaks
Kepmem vs. Semyof
National vs. Lutrul
Tsapna vs. Shunna Eagles
Akashemo vs. Kupore

Round 12:
Kupore vs. Tsapna
Keleri vs. Fampalo
Lutrul vs. Amnanache
Mighty Oaks vs. National
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Kepmem
Semyof vs. Muni
Shunna Eagles vs. Cheshek
Sitache vs. Akashemo
Nokelto Scouts vs. Hokrof
Aroketsil Canaries vs. Aroketsil Spirits